Summer Trip Part 2: Yellowstone

After spending some time at Mt. Rushmore we took off for Yellowstone! It was another long day of driving and we almost quit and stayed somewhere else because Sullivan was so sad, but he finally calmed down when I sat next to him and stroked his face and sang Primary songs to him. I think I sang for over an hour! But we made it to Yellowstone that night and camped right in the Park. It was so busy, but we had a great spot and it was much warmer this night. The next day we met the Seedall family! It was so fun to see them again! Later that day Emily Huff and her kids also met up with us. We drove around and saw some fun sights and then camped about 20 minutes outside of Yellowstone in Montana.

We had  to get a picture of Brian holding Miles and Eliza because he spent a lot of time holding them both when they were babies. 

I wish we could do this every month!

St. Patrick's Day!

A valuable lesson I have learned as a mother: NEVER do something on a Holiday that you don't wish to continue every year. St. Patrick's day used to consist of green pancakes or Lucky Charms for breakfast and wearing something green, and of course pinching anyone not wearing green. One fateful year in Michigan I saw a cute "leprechaun trap" in our Family Fun magazine so the kids made it with our friends, the Seedall's, kids. It was fun and the kids all had a great time. The pesky leprechauns didn't get caught in their trap but left some goodies behind. But little did I know what kind of Holiday loving monster Nora would become.

When Brian dropped the kids off at school he called and said Nora left her backpack so he was coming back to get it. Then he called again saying Nora had accidentally wore her tap shoes to school and was coming back home for some regular shoes. I laughed because I'm not so sure it was an accident or if she was trying to be more Irish by being an Irish step dancer or something. It's good we live so close to the school!

Note: green eyeshadow and nail polish

The other three kids were thrilled to have Lucky Charms for breakfast and I had to convince Miles to wear something green. Sophie wore a turquoise shirt and called it good (and Wesley was clueless). But Nora had her hair and outfit planned for a week, spent a few hours on the "trap" and made the leprechauns a pot of gold and a rainbow from her rainbow loom, left them some fools gold and wrote them a note. Luckily those leprechauns did stop by, took Nora's gold and left behind some candy.

Because Nora loves holidays so much I can't bear to break her little heart and not let her do these fun things, even if it gets a bit stressful for me sometimes. Luckily she is usually pleased with whatever we happen to do and most of her big ideas she is happy to do all on her own. Love these kiddos!

Sophie had a strings concert at the High School that night. The 4th - 12th graders played pretty much only Beatles songs and they had some High School boys dressed up like John, Paul, George and Ringo and sang for 3 or 4 songs. It was great! I love the Beatles. And although I could barely see the top of Sophie's ponytail it was still fun. Nora came with me and Brian stayed home with the boys.

My cute 5th grader.

Vacation: Michigan Reunion!

We left the Beagley's on Friday morning and made it to Logan that night for a Greencrest/Michigan Reunion! It was so much fun to get together with our "Michigan family", the Seedall's were kind enough to host all of us and everyone was there, except for Tim Johnson, who we all missed.

Nora was SO excited to see Madelyn again. She had a present for her and we left it home on accident, which was traumatic for all of us.... these two had a great time together.

Ann and Marianne

Ainsley and Eleanor

Ruth and Maddie

The Seedall's had a great playground in the backyard the kids had fun on.

The kids watched a movie on the wall with a projector. We hoped some of them would fall asleep but I don't think that happened (shocking!)

Love, love, love these amazing ladies!

Clayton and Marianne can always be counted on to get the games going!

Ruth made some awesome cinnamon rolls for breakfast

It wouldn't have been complete without some Little Tikes basketball! Although it appears here they are using the real hoop.... ?

Hula-hoopers

It also wouldn't be complete without Marianne doing the girls' nails!

We had such a fun time with everyone, it is still hard to not live by all these great families! I miss them a lot and being able to have someone to chat with, craft with, babysit swap with, go thrift shopping with, eat dinner with, etc... It was a fabulous reunion!